The EM Drive was developed almost 15 years ago by British inventor Roger Shawyer but many laughed off the idea as being "scientifically impossible".

Yet after NASA experts revived hope in the invention by saying it was may work, the new thruster has finally made it through its first tests.

German scientists today confirmed they had successfully tested the invention in a laboratory – which could open the door to the creation of a Star Trek-like 'Warp engine'.

The team at the Dresden University of Technology believe they have found the next form of space travel.

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FUTURE: Many have compared the invention to the Star Trek enterprise.

“If true, this could certainly revolutionise space travel.”

Martin Tajmar, lead scientist

Martin Tajmar, professor and chair for Space Systems at the Dresden University of Technology, said: "Our measurements reveal thrusts as expected from previous claims after carefully studying thermal and electromagnetic interferences.

"If true, this could certainly revolutionise space travel."

The drive is capable of producing thrust several thousand times greater than a standard photon rocket.

This could mean getting to the Moon in four hours, Mars within 70 days and Pluto in 18 months.

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WARP SPEED: Humans could be travelling to the moon in four hours in the future

Dr Tajmar added: "Our test campaign cannot confirm or refute the claims of the EM Drive but intends to independently assess possible side-effects in the measurements methods used so far.

"Nevertheless, we do observe thrust close to the actual predictions after eliminating many possible error sources that should warrant further investigation into the phenomena."